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How to Deal With College Rejections

Take it from these colorful graphics I created – here are some words of advice on how to deal with college rejections.

If you’re a senior in high school, this is the most stressful time of your high school career. You see your friends getting accepted to prestigious universities. You, too, have gotten some acceptance letters of your own, but they’re not to the schools you yearn to attend. In fact, those are the schools that sent you the oh-so-dreaded rejection letters. You feel worthless. You feel like all the hard work you’ve put in have gone to waste. You feel like it’s the end of the world.

Hey, you. Yes, you. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get accepted to your dream school. There are other opportunities out there, such as transferring. Remember that where you start out is not important…it’s where you end up. You could also choose to attend a community/junior college (yes, your ego will not permit you to do this but hear me out). If you attend a junior college for your first 2 years of general education (which is the same at every college), you’ll be saving thousands of dollars. After 1-2 years, transfer to your dream school. It’ll be much easier + you won’t be in as much debt as everyone else. Who’s the real winner here?

The SAT lasts approximately 4 hours. What you get on the SAT, however, is a big factor in college admissions. It sucks how a numerical score derived from a 4-hour test can determine something as major as the college you’ll be attending. Should a 4-hour test really decide the course of your life? Regardless of the answer to the previous question, it is what it is. It’s the same thing with your GPA. There’s no way to completely and accurately measure your intelligence and somehow put that on a numerical scale. What you should remember, though, is that you’re much more than just a number. Don’t let a college rejection make you feel worthless.

College applications usually require for you to write some essays/personal statements. This is an integral part of your application and is also a deciding factor in your admission. Reasonably, though, it’s impossible to fit your entire life and all you’ve done in a couple hundred words. Regardless of what you chose to write about in your essays, you’ve accomplished much more than can be put into words on paper. You’re more than a few essays.

Wise words from a USC graduate. You have a lot of time to do everything you want to do. This is only the beginning of your collegiate journey, and you’ve got a long way to go. There’s still time to transfer to your dream school, to find your calling, and to pursue your career goals. You’re far from the end, but when you get there, it will be worth it.

Don’t feel down about college rejections, because remember, you’re only 17-18 years old. A high school staff member told me the following, and I want you to remember it.